A Thanks to Andrews Comms

[DRCORTEX]

Hi People,

Just thought I would give a thankyou to Andrews for the assistance they gave me with my beatup old 10" GSO.

I lugged it into Andrews after giving it a "lobotomy" ( cut off 80mm to get focus for my new Canon EOS 500D ), then found I couldn't collimate it.

They ended up spending an hour or so working on it, fitting extenders, and recollimating. Now thats what I call good service.

Now at least I can focus for visual fun.

Meanwhile, I use my Canon for widefield starshots, tried my first last night at Barrington Tops - dismal.

It's gonna be one hell of a learning curve, but at least, when I have finally saved all my pennies, for a good astrophotography setup, I may have some idea of what the hell I am doing :P

Is it possible to capture bright DSO's ( Orion , Tuc, etc ), without guideing ?

What exposure, bulb settings, ISO, etc ?

Bought myself a remote shutter release cable today - hopefully that will help. Nothing like trying to keep your finger steady with the camera on a tripod, while holding the shutter button open - :P - I did manage some startrails - very blurry ones :)

Cheers

DOC

[DavidU]

Excellent.

[erick]

You cut the bottom off, not the top? :D

Interested in knowing why the collimation problem? Sounds like an extension tube was used in the focusser to collimate? I have an 8" imaging GSO reflector - I know because I need to add extension tubes to bring it to visual focus. But I have been collimating, without a problem, directly in the focusser - no extension tubes?

Err, you'll capture them, but you probably want a resolved image rather than a blur? Are you on a driven EQ mount?

Suggest you search out other's images of Orion and 47 Tuc and check what settings they are using.

[toryglen-boy]

Its always good to get excellent service, that will take me back to a seller time and time again, even if their price isnt the best

I find the Astronoimcal society in general is great at helping each other out, i have very helpful forum member, helping me get imaging and its jsut a testment to people who share the same passion

now, if only this overcast heatwave would go ...

[DRCORTEX]

Hi Eric,

They used a laser ( mine was stuffed ), and a 50mm extension. Havn't tried to focus on infinity yet, works well against trees a few clicks away. Like you, waiting for this heatwave to clear. Jeez, I hope I can focus, and if I can get a few 30 second or so exposures - fantastic!

Cheers

DOC